Holiday fireworks planned

Mother Nature has not been cooperating with Fourth of July Fourth fireworks this year, with a county-wide burn ban in effect in Jefferson County because of extremely dry conditions.

Mother Nature has not been cooperating with Fourth of July Fourth fireworks this year, with a county-wide burn ban in effect in Jefferson County because of extremely dry conditions.

However, Charles “Cooter” Failla of White Hall is still planning his pyrotechnic display for next Wednesday evening at Bulldog Stadium. Pine Bluff and Redfield also have scheduled fireworks shows using licensed and permitted personnel to light up the skies.

The Pine Bluff Festival Association and the Pine Bluff Parks and Recreation” scheduled a display at the amphitheatre in Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Regional Park, while Redfield is planning a parade, entertainment and fireworks at the ball field at city’s F.P. Baugh Park.

Failla, who operates retail fireworks outlets on a seasonal basis, said he will encourage as many people as possible to attend the organized shows because of the potential danger for fires with uncontrolled fireworks.

“We will have police and fire personnel at our shows,” he said. “We don’t take any chances.”

He will have two trailers loaded with pyrotechnics for the Fourth of July fireworks show at Bulldog Stadium at White Hall High School, estimating the fireworks show probably won’t begin until 8:30-9 p.m.

A second crew of his Display Partners will put on the fireworks display at Regional Park. The company has several other shows scheduled around the holiday, including one at a church camp.

Fireworks are explosive devices, Failla added, and require numerous precautions. To sell fireworks to consumers from a stand or building, the retailer must obtain a permit from a municipality if located within a city limits, in addition to an inspection and a permit from the Fire Marshal’s Office of the Arkansas State Police.

Regulations are more rigid for individuals and firms that put on fireworks displays, Failla explained, including visits and permits from the state fire marshal, local fire and police officials. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has jurisdiction over display fireworks, which require ATF explosives license or permit.

Failla said common sense behind all the safety precautions.

White Hall Police Chief Richard Wingard said if the city does not receive a substantial rain by July 4, police officers will be more restrictive on the discharge of fireworks by consumers because of the potential fire danger.

A number of White Hall businesses and residents underwrite the cost of the free fireworks show, Wingard said, which is hosted by the city’s police and fire personnel.

Policemen and firemen will collect donated canned at the stadium for the White Hall Food Pantry. “We realize children who eat at school during the school may not have food at home during the summer and the donations will go to those in need,” Wingard added.

He encouraged residents to park on the home and visitors sides of the stadium, not on Holland Avenue, to reduce the danger of vehicle-pedestrian accidents, adding individuals can bring non-alcoholic beverages and food to the stadium.

“We are interested in having a safe Fourth of July, with an emphasis on the word ‘safe’,” Wingard said.

Greg Gustek with the Pine Bluff Festival Association said food vendors and children’s activities will open at noon and the amphitheatre stage will turn into a blues venue with three different bands playing beginning at 4 p.m.

What Gustek billed as Southeast Arkansas’ largest display of fireworks “will light up the sky at approximately 9:05p.m.”

Proceeds from beverage sales will go to “Blues for a Cause,” an organization that helps cancer patients that either do not have enough insurance or no insurance at all, Gustek added.

For additional information, call (870) 536-0920 or 536-7600.

A parade at 4 p.m. will kick off the Fourth of July Celebration at Redfield, a spokesman for the sponsoring Redfield Community Service Association said. The parade will begin across Sheridan Road from the Redfield truck stop, immediately east Interstate 530, and will end at the ball park.

Live entertainment will be provided by Messenger 7 from 5 p.m. to dark, according to the activities schedule. Fireworks will begin at dark with Taylor Oates singing the national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”